Against the background of concern about ministerial responsibility for the health of prisoners
in Europe, the members of the WHO European Network on Prison and Health asked the WHO
Regional Office for Europe to provide a document on the governance of prison health. A special
Expert Group for the Stewardship of Prison Health and members of the WHO European Network
on Prison and Health have contributed to this document. The Expert Group concluded, with
regard to institutional arrangements for prison health, that: (i) managing and coordinating all
relevant agencies and resources contributing to the health and well-being of prisoners is a
whole-of-government responsibility, and (ii) health ministries should provide and be accountable
for health care services in prisons and advocate healthy prison conditions. The Expert Group
considers that such governance of prison health is in accordance with and supportive of the
new European policy for health, Health 2020, and will lead to better health and well-being of
prisoners as part of better public health.